Apparatus for sorting and tagging laundry



Sept. 15, 1931. M. TROY APPARATUS FOR SORTING AND TAGGING LAUNDRY Filed June 28, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 JZINVENTOR a 770 BY /V .7

Z WITNESSES J 5i @W ATTORNEY Sept. 15, 193l.- TR 1,823,773

APPARATUS FOR SORTING AND TAGGING LAUNDRY Filed June 28, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w ATTORNEY Sept. 15, 1931. M. TROY 1,823,773

APPARATUS FdR SORTING AND TAGGING LAUNDRY ATTORNEY Sept. 15, 1931. M. TROY APPARATUS FOR SORTING AND TAGGING LAUNDRY 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 28,

ATTORNEY dad Y Evy jected to the proper Washing solutions or de- Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES MAX 'TRUY, F BROOKLYN, NEW-YORK APPARATUS FOR sperms AND EBAGGINGLAUNDRY Application filed June 28, 19229. Serial No. 374,504.

This invention relates to an apparatus which is useful in laundries for the purpose of enabling the sorting of articles or pieces o'f'each batch thereof to be laundered, baggi-ng of the sorted articles or pieces, and tagging of the bags, in order that the articles or pieces may be putthrough laundering operations without any of the art'icles or pieces being lost from any particular batch.

It is the practice in large laundry establishment-s to separate or sort articles or pieces constituting an individual batch, in order that the articles or pieces of one kind, a regards texture of fabric, may be sub tergents. The sorted articles or pieces are placed in mesh or netted bags for the wash ing operation, prior to other laundering opera-ti'ons, as may be required. In this manner the articles or pieces of one batch are kept from being mislaid, or lost, or mixed with articles of other batches, thus insuring return to a customer of all of the articles or pieces sent in.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which enables an operator to expeditiously handle different batches of articles or pieces to be laundered as and for the purposes set forth above.

iVith the foregoing and other objects in View the invention resides in the particular combination, constructiouand operation of the parts hereinafter fully described and illust-rated in the accompanying drawings, in

whieh I Figure 1 is a transverse section of the appa-ratus, the parts being shown in the relationship ready for sorting and bagging the articles or pieces to be laundered.

Fig. '2 is a view similar to 1, but showing'the hinged leaf of the table dropped, and the bag suspension means in the inactive po-. sition.

Fig. 3 is asec-tion taken substantially on the 59 larged scale.

Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the bar for supporting the bag closing pins and tags.

Fig. '6 is a view of one of the bag closing pins and its tag. i i Fig. "7 is a view illustrating the manner 1n which a bag pin and tag is used 'for closing a bag.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be apparent that the apparatus includes a table 10 having a top 11. A guard 12 extends upwardly from the to 11 and around the opposite ends and bare thereof. A crossbar '13 is ositioned on the top 11 at the back thereo ,the purpose of which will be explained. The top 11 of the table has a leaf 214 of suitable size. The leaf 14 is hingedly mounted as at 15 so as to swing from a normal horizontally :disposed position to a forwardly and down Wardly inclined position. A rock shaft .16 extends longitudinally of the table, and is supported near the front thereof, beneath the top 11 by suitable bearings 17 on the frame '18 of the table. Arms19 are secured to the shaft 16, and each arm has a cam '20 which coacts with a beveled block 21 secured to the under side of the leaf 14. 'When the shaft '16 is turned in one direction, the cams QOTbear respectively on the blOc'ks Ql, causing upward movement of the leaf 14 to the normal horizontally disposed position. The leaf 14 is counter-balanced by the use of weights -22 eaclr of which has connected therewith one end of a cable 23, as at 24, and the opposite end of said cable is connected with the frame 18, as at 25.. Each cable 23 passes over a pulley 26 carried by a bracket 27 on the under side of the leaf 14 near the front edge thereof, .and also over a pulley 28 supported by a bracket 29 secured to the under side of the top 11 near the rear edge thereof.

The leaf 14 is retained in the normal horizontally disposed position by means presently to "be described. A latching device is arranged on the under side of the leaf '14 and said device includes a spring actuated latching member 30, and an apertured lug 31 secured tothe under side of the top 11.

One end of the latch member is movable into the aperture of the lug 31, as the leaf 14 is being moved to the normal horizontally disposed position. A flexible element or length of cable 32 has one end thereof connected as at 33 with the latch member 30, and the opposite end thereof is connected as at 34 with an arm 35 secured to the shaft 16. The cable 32 passes around a pulley 5 supported by a bracket 6 secured to the underside of the leaf 14. It will now be understood that when the shaft 16' is turned in one direction, the arm 35 will move therewith and exert a pull on the latch member 30 through the intervention of the flexible element 32, thereby retracting the latch member 30 from engagement with the lug 31. The leaf 14 then drop under its own weight subject to the counter-action of the Weights 22.

In accordance with another featureof the invention means is, provided which is adapted to "engage and suspend a plurality of netted bags in open condition, to receive the sorted articles or pieces of laundry. The said means includes a plurality of horizontally disposedsupports, arranged in pairs, the supports of each pair being parallel to each other. Each support consists of an angle iron 86 secured to the frame 18 at one end and a filler piece 37 secured to the angle iron 36. The upper flange of the angle iron 36 its filler piece have an arrangement of holes 38. Each of the supports is braced by a member 39. A bar 46- is positioned beneath each filler piece 37, said har having a plurality of upstanding pins 41 receivable respectively in the holes 38. The bar-4O is connected with a rod 42 by pin and slot couplings 43. One end of the rod 42 is pivotally connected as at 44 with a rocker 45 carried by'the related angle iron 66. The opposite end of the rod42 is pivotally connected as at 46 with a rocker 47 whose fulcrum or pivot 48 is fixed to the frame 18. The rocker 47 has aslot 49 which receives a pin 50 on one end of an arm 51 secured to the shaft 16. Thus a pin and slot coupling is provided between the shaft 16 and the rod 42. The provision and arrangement of parts just described is such that .uponmovement of the shaft 16 in one direction, the pins 41 will project upward- 1y through the upper flange of the relater angle iron 36,.and upon movement of the shaft 16 in an opposite direction said pins 41 will be drawn downwardly. The pins 41 together with the angle irons 36 serve to suspend the bags 52 in open condition to receive articles or pieces to be laundered. It is to beunderstood that the bags are made of netting, to allow the cleaning solution to pass through the articles or pieces in the washing operation.

In accordance with another feature of the invention use is made of suitable devices which are designed to close the open ends of the bags 52. Each device is in the form of a safety pin 53 having a tag 54 connected with tie eye 55 thereof by a ring 56. Both the pin 53 and the tag 54 have a similar number. which is designated 57. These numbers-57 are used as a means of identification of'a particular batch of articles or pieces to be laundered belonging to one customer. The tag 54 has a substantially rectangular opening 58 therein, together with a plurality of notches 59 which communicate with the opening 58, for a purpose to appear. Use is made of a key element or bar 60 of substantially L-shape to present members 61 and 62. The member 61 has keys or projections 63 near the terminal. thereof, which correspond in number and arrangement to the number and arrangement of-notches 59 in the tag 54, so that only the particular tag .having the number 50 in the present case,

be arranged on the member 61. The member 62 of the bar has keyhole slots 64 therein. Headed studs 65 are arranged on one of the ends of the guard 12. The studs 65 are receivable in the slots 64 in the member 61 of the bar 60 for the purpose of removably holding said bar in place. The element or bar 60 is adapted when in place on the studs 65 tocooperate with means connected with the shaft 16, which means is adapted to turn the shaft 16 in opposite directions for the purpose of allowing the leaf 14 to drop to the forwardly and clownwardly inclined position under its own weight, after retracting the latch member 30 from the lug 31, and at the same time to move the pins 41 downwardly to release the laden bags 52. This means which cooperates.

with the element or bar 60 includes a latchmember 66 having a notch 67 therein at one end and a stub shaft 68 at the opposite end. The shaft 68 is reduced to provide a shoulder 69. A pin is arranged transversely of the shaft 68 to present ends70. The shaft 68 extends into a guide 71 integralwith a lever arm 72 secured to the shaft 16. The ends of the pin project through slots 7 3 in the guide 71. A coil spring 74 surrounds the reduced portion of the shaft 68 and has one end in engagement with the shoulder 69, and the opposite end thereof is in engagement with the end of the guide. The spring 74 acts to normally retain the latch member 66 in a latching position with respect to the lever arm 72. A grip member 7 5 is pivoted as at'76. on the arm 72, and the lower end of said member 75 surrounds the guide 71 between the ends 70 of the pin and the arm. Under this provision,-by manipulating the grip member 75, the latch member 66 may be retracted.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the leaf 14 may be latched in the normal horizontally disposed position in the an article orarticles.

plane of the table top 11,1and that the pins 41 can only-be held in the projected pos tions, When the key element or barfil" is arranged on the studs 65. I This is true because it will then be possible to engage the latch member '66 with the member 6'2 *of the element or bar -66) as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 4. The said member GQ'Will be disposed in the notch 67, as the lever arm 72 is moved forwardly, the latching of the arm 72 being brought about by the coaction of the latch member 66 with the member 62. The bags 52 may then be arranged on the pins l1 as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 3. Attention is now called to the fact that the key element or bar '60 can not be removed Without releasing the lever farm 72; Attention is also called to the fact that the key element or bar 160 has number which corresponds to the number on the pin :53 and its tag 54, this number being designated by the reference numeral 57. It therefore will be understood that the key element "or bar together with the safety pins 53 will be identified with the particular bags 52 to which the safety pins 53 :are applied for the purpose of closing the bags, after the sorted articles or pieces to be laundered are arranged therein. The arti-cles or pieces to-be laundered constituting one individual batch are arranged on the leaf 14 in its normal position in the plane of the table top. .11. The operator then separates or sorts the articles or pieces, and

- a; put those of a kindrednature as regards texture of fabric in separate bags, one class of the articles or. pieces being put in one bag,

an'd other-classes in other bags. After this has been done, the lever arm may be released in the manner explained hereinbefore',

whereupon the leaf 14: will drop to the for wardly and downwardly inclined position, and at the same time the bags 52 will drop to the :floor. It will therefore be understood thatiany article or piece to be laundered which may be overlooked will drop to the floor. Such article or articles may be picked up from the .floor and placed in the proper bag or bags, thereby averting possible loss of It will (also, be apparent that another batch of articles or pieces to be laundered cannot be placed on the table until the leaf 14 isiagai-n brought to the normal position in the plane of the "1 tabletop 11, and this will require the use of the particular key element or bar 60 With its safety pin 58, corresponding to the new batch, to be placed on the stud 65. The key elements or bars 60 are sent to the point Where the articles or pieces are disposed 1 articles or pieces of another batch on the scale indicated in dot, and dash lines in Fig.

3,;and Will then arrange them on the crossbar 13 to be removed by't-he-sorting and bag ging operator, who also controls the operation of the lever arm 72, and who attends to the use of the proper key element or bar 60 and associated safety pins 53.

I claim: I p

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a table having a leaf in the top thereof movable into and out of the plan of said top, means including a movable arm on said table to move said leaf into the plane of said top, a tag receiving member, coaching means on the table and said receiving member to removably secure the latter in place, and means on said arm adapted to engage said member, for the purpose of holding said arm against movement While said leaf is in the plane of said top.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a table'having a leaf in the top thereof movable into and out of the plane of said .top, -means including a movable arm on said table tojmove said leafi-nto the plane of said-top, a tag receiving member, c'oa-cting means on the table and said receiving member to removably secure the la e-rin place, and means :on said arm adapt edt-o engage said member, for the purpose of holding said arm iagalinst movement While said leaf is in. the plane of said top, said last means being releasable from said member to allow said leaf to move out of the plane of said top.

3. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a table having a leaf in receiving member being temporarily held against displacement by said last. means when the latter is engaged with said memher. 7 I i .4. In :an apparatus of the class described, t-he combination :of a table having a flringed leaf in the top thereof movable into the plane or" saidstop and out of said plane to :a forviardl'ylsaaid downwardly inclined position, said l'eaf' being moved to the inclined posifion under its own Weight, means including aimovab'le arm on said table to move .said leaf into the plane of said top, a tag receiv ing member, coa'oting means on the table and said receiving member to removably secure the latter in place, and means on said arm adapted to engage said member, for :the purpose of holding said arm against movement while said leaf is in the plane of said top.

5. In an'apparatus of the class described, the combination of relatively fixed spaced supporting members, a bar having pins for each supporting member and having holes which receive said pins, a lever, means interposing said lever and each bar to impart movement thereto by the operation of the lever, to bring said pins to projected and retracted positions with respect to the related supporting member, a relatively fixed support, a. key bar adapted to receive numbered tagging and closing devices, coacting means on said support ano said key bar to removably hold said bar in place on said support, and means carried by said lever which is engageable with said key bar to hold said bar in place while said lever so engaged.

6. In an apparatus for sorting, bagging and tagging laundry, the combination of a lever, a relatively fixed support, a bar adapted to receive numbered tags on bag closingdevices, coacting means on said support andsaid bar to removably hold said bar in place on said support, and means carried by said lever which is engageable with said bar to prevent the removal of said bar until said lever is disengaged.

7. In an apparatus for sorting laundry and for tagging the laundry bags, the combination of as hingedly mounted table leaf on which the laundry articles tobe sorted are arranged, latching and releasing means operable to hold said leaf in a normal posltion to receive and hold the articles while being sorted, and also operable to release said leaf to an inclined position, means to engage and suspend a plurality of bags'in open condition to receive the sorted laundry articles, and also adapted to release said bags, and a bar which is adapted to receive identification tags orbag closing devices re- 'movably arranged and adapted to be releasably engaged by said latching and releasing means, for the purpose of holding said leaf in its normal position, and also to maintain said second means engaged with said bags.

8. In an apparatus for sorting, bagging and tagging laundry, the combination of a lever for actuating a movable service member on which laundry to be sorted is placed, a relatively fixed support, a bar adapted to receive identification tagson laundry bag closing devices, coacting means on said support and said bar to removably hold said bar in place on. said support, means carried by said lever which is engageable with said bar to prevent removal of said bar until said lever is disengaged, devices adapted to releasably suspend laundry bags in open condition to receive the sorted articles of laundry, and means actuated by the operation'of said lever to actuate said devices to release said bags.

9. In an apparatus for sorting, bagging and tagging laundry, the combination of a service part on which the articles to be sorted may be placed, said service :part being mounted for movement into and out of a sorting position, means to control the movement of the service part, and means controlled by the first mentioned means adapted to suspend in open condition a plurality of laundry bags while said service part is in its sorting position, and also operable to release said bags when said service part is being moved out of its sorting position, said first mentioned means including a detachable element which is adapted to carry a particular set of identification tags and con.- nected fastening devices, each of said devices being adapted for the purpose of closing one of said bags. r

' 10. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a service part on which articles to be sorted may be placed, said service part being mounted for movement into and out of a sorting position, and means adapted to releasably hold the service part in the sorting position, said means including a removable identification tag receiving member which cannot be removed until said means is released.

11. In an apparatus for sorting, bagging and tagging laundry, the combination of a service member on which the laundry articles to be sorted may be arranged, means mounting said service member for movement from a sorting position to a non-sorting position, said service member being movable to the non-sorting position under its own weight, means operable to move said service member to the sorting position, latch means to retain said service member in the sorting position, said second means being connected with and operable to actuate said latch means to release said service member so that itmay move to the non-sorting position, and means to engage and suspend a plurality of bags in open condition to receive the sorted laundry articles, said last means also being connected with and adapted to be operated by said second means to release said bags when the second means is operated to release said service member.

Signed at Brooklyn, N. Y., in the county of Kings and- State of New York this 25th day of June A. D. 1929.

- MAX TROY, 

